review – Page 19 – Beer Search Party

May 23, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Monumentous from Coachella Valley Brewing

I had my first beer from CVBC at Firkfest and then on the road to Paso Robles, a sip or two of Kolschella made it’s way into my glass courtesy of Erin (aka The Beer Goddess).

Now it is time to formally review their IPA – Monumentous.

The IPA clocks in at 7% ABV but initially tastes a little heavier than that. My palate feels weighed down by a dankness and herbalness that just sits on the tongue and doesn’t move. It has an almost silky mouthfeel to it which is a bit strange and different from IPA’s that I have had. Although, I have encountered it in Imperial or Double IPA’s.

The aroma is mostly pine but not the needles. More the actual cut board. A hint of sawdust is there. There are some citrus notes here and it certainly isn’t burdened by caramel maltiness which confuses me even more. I would expect this to be more sprightly. Maybe I am being confused due to the whole hop flowers and two separate dry hop additions.

All I know is that it is certainly different from many IPA’s but without a born on or best buy date I can’t be sure how fresh this bottle was.

May 12, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Brawler Pugilist Style Ale from Yards Brewing Company

Yards Brewing is well known on the East Coast but less so here so when I had an opportunity to try some “malt forward” beer for a change.

Brawler pours a dark cola shade with a thin head that disappears quickly. There is a sweet but not overly so caramel maltiness in the aroma. That same caramel is quite evident in the taste as well. This is the anti-hop beer. No bitterness at all. Very light and super easy to drink bordering on watery.

I wouldn’t call it pugilistic by any stretch but it is a solid and simple beer.

May 3, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Double Simcoe from Weyerbacher

Despite some hops becoming hip, some have staying power and cachet. Simcoe is such a hop. And Weyerbacher has doubled it.

DS pours a hazy dark amber color. And before I go further, I am glad that they have time stamped the bottle. I assume, since there are two dates, that one is the bottle date and the second is best buy. Which means I caught this a month before it technically expired.

It does taste a bit aged. The hops haven’t dropped out but they have changed. This is a bit in barley wine territory. But there is a big juicy orange taste that just sticks to the tongue that is balanced/fought by a caramel sweetness. There is a bit of a cola taste here as well.

It doesn’t taste super boozy despite the 9% ABV. The cheeks are warming though. This beer shows glimpses of what it probably was fresh. And is a good example of why beer fans need to travel and taste beer fresh. If this is an indication, I will like the full Weyerbacher.

April 16, 2014September 5, 2018

Video Review – Spring Blonde from New Belgium

Since I was bringing Belgian beers “Up from the Cellar” I thought it fitting to do video reviews of two new New Belgium beers in tandem. And first up is Spring Blonde, which the brewery describes as “Brewed with pale and Munich malts, this golden ale pours bright copper and holds a strong, white head aloft. A nose of lemon peel, pepper, and fresh baked bread entice a sipping. Spring Blonde drinks malty, sweet and wonderful. And the easy Nugget hopping pedals towards a dry, lightly bitter finish.”

But what do I think of it? Watch on to find out….

April 14, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Odyssey from Sly Fox

90 IBUs!

According to the back of the can, Sly Fox has made “well over” 40 pales and IPAs using different hop combinations and varietals and Odyssey is the capstone to that project. An 8.4% ABV Imperial IPA.

It pours a dark orange color with fast swirling bubbles that quickly recede along with the head. I get a strong dried orange smell alongside some dankness.

It does taste Imperial. The slightly metallic bitterness is sharp at first then really sticks to the roof of the mouth. And it stays there. There is a touch of spice (maybe pepper) in the mix but that dried fruit aroma is mirrored in the taste too. Along with a tiny hint of lemon.

This is certainly one of the happier East Coast IPAs that I have encountered.

April 7, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Molten Lava from Double Mountain

9% and 90 BU’s in this Imperial IPA from Double Mountain that is new to L.A. This is the “embiggened” version of Hop Lava and it is hot.

That heat is a slight burn of both hop bitterness and that ABV. The aroma is a mixture of dried tropical fruit and the bad sounding but not always bad, cat pee with a tinge of white wine barrel.

It pours a burnished orange color with lots of bubbles rising upward. Bitterness is strong but does fade out before it wears out its welcome. The end is quite dry and continues with the wine character. Plus a touch of dried orange and wheat.

This is a unique Imperial that is more subtle than other muddled palate wreckers.

April 3, 2014September 5, 2018

Review: The Traveler from Adelbert’s Brewery

L.A. gets some Shiner beer and a bit of Jester King and now add Adelbert’s Brewery from Austin. A Mini Texas craft invasion.

Let’s see how The Traveler, a Belgian a Style IPA tastes…

Caged and corked. Making me work for it. This IPA pours a dark orange with lots of foam. The smell is primarily pine. Crisp tree and forest. The bubbly initial taste has that in the mix but then some Belgian banana notes start creeping in along with a tropical dried fruit taste. There is a lingering bitterness but it is light by West Coast standards for sure. Certainly a beer that progresses from flavor to flavor.

It does the job of wanting me to try more of their line-up for sure.

March 29, 2014September 5, 2018

Video Review – Moo Hoo from Terrapin Beer Co.

I am finishing up my epic beer buying binge from Let’s Pour with reviews of two AM oriented beers from Terrapin Beer Company.

First up is Moo Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout…

Here is the brewery description: “The Terrapin “Moo-Hoo” Chocolate Milk Stout proudly uses cocoa nibs and shells from Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company to give this beer its great taste! An appetizing cold weather treat this sweet stout is rich creamy and uniquely satisfying. Beer and Chocolate together they truly make one of life’s great indulgences.”

March 26, 2014September 5, 2018

Review: Spring Reign from Ninkasi

Thanks to the folks in Eugene, I got hooked up with the spring pale seasonal ale and now is the time to review some Ninkasi beer.

Spring Reign pours a very clear light tangerine color. With little to no head at all. There is a slight citrus aroma to it that fools the drinker into expecting a traditional pale ale but then that first sip and subsequent ones are very British ESB’ish. Loads of minerality to it. That saltiness combined with the grain taste make an interesting combo. As it warms, you get a slight touch of orange at the back.

And us in L.A. are also lucky enough to find their Czech pils, Pravda and their IRA. I would suggest getting all three for an Oregon taste test.

March 24, 2014September 5, 2018

Review – Imperial IPA from Worthy Brewing

Worthy Brewing has graced my ‘fridge (courtesy of my mother who found this in the PDX airport) on two occasions now and both have been pretty good and I would certainly pick the Imperial IPA again. It has lots of citrus taste but with a twist. Tangerine is dominant to me but it is more dried fruit notes. And it is not too heavy for an imperial which usually clock in much higher and put you under the table. I also noticed a background of mango and stone fruit as well which again is usually masked by more bitterness than you find here.

Can’t wait to have more from their line in the future.